Villa Torrigiani

A beautiful villa with a romantic garden with fountains and grottos

The villa and park in Camigliano (Capannori) date back to the early 16th century when they belonged to the powerful Buonvisi family. During the second half of the 17th century both were purchased by Marquis Nicolao Santini, ambassador of the Republic of Lucca to the Sun King’s court. Santini transformed it into a sumptuous home with flowering gardens and large baths which reflected the villa’s façade.Nicolao Santini had the Flora garden theatre built with grottos and fountains, which are still functioning and visible in the Grotta dei Venti. Beginning in the 19th century, a portion of the park took on a more romantic aspect.The residence is still inhabited by the descendents of the Marquis Santini. Thanks to numerous marriages, the villa passed first to the Torrigiani then to the Colonna princes.The inside of the villa—decorated with 17th century frescoes by Pietro Scorzini and original 18th century furniture—is open to the public. The park, with its fountains, nymphs and statues, is also open to the public.

The vast Capannori area, which ranges from the Altopiano delle Pizzorne to the Monti Pisani and occupies most of the Lucca plain, formed by drying up of Lake Bientina, is dotted with medieval towers and castles alongside refined Renaissance villas. ...